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Topic Number 307 - Backup Withholding

When it applies, backup withholding requires a payer to withhold tax from payments not otherwise subject to withholding. You may be subject to backup withholding if you fail to provide a correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) when required or if you fail to report interest, dividend, or patronage dividend income.

Banks or other businesses that make certain types of payments to you must file an information return with the IRS on Form 1099 showing payments that you received during the year. A Form 1099 includes your name and TIN such as a social security number (SSN), employer identification number (EIN), or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). The Form 1099 will also report any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules.

Payments subject to backup withholding: Backup withholding can apply to most kinds of payments reported on Form 1099, including:

Backup withholding also may apply to gambling winnings (Form W-2G.pdf) on winnings that aren't subject to regular gambling withholding.

Withholding rules: When you open a new account, make an investment, or begin to receive payments reportable on Form 1099, you must provide your TIN. For certain types of payments, you must provide the TIN in writing and certify under penalties of perjury that it's correct. In those cases, the bank or business will give you Form W-9.pdf, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, or a similar form. If your account or investment will earn interest or dividends, you must also certify that you're not subject to backup withholding due to previous underreporting of interest and dividends.

You may be subject to backup withholding and the payer must withhold at a flat 24% rate when:

You don't give the payer your TIN in the required manner.

The IRS notifies the payer that the TIN you gave is incorrect.

The IRS notifies the payer to start withholding on interest or dividends because you have underreported interest or dividends on your income tax return. The IRS will do this only after it has mailed you four notices over at least a 120-day period.

You fail to certify that you're not subject to backup withholding for underreporting of interest and dividends.

How to prevent or stop backup withholding: To stop backup withholding, you'll need to correct the reason you became subject to backup withholding in the first place. This can include providing the correct TIN to the payer, resolving the underreported income and paying the amount owed, or filing the missing return(s), as appropriate.

If you receive a notice from a payer notifying you that the TIN you gave is incorrect, you can usually prevent backup withholding from starting or stop it once it has begun by giving the payer your correct name and TIN and certifying that the TIN you give is correct. If you receive a second notice from that payer, you'll need to provide them with a copy of your social security card that shows your correct name and SSN.

Credit for backup withholding: If your 1099 shows an amount withheld under the backup withholding rules, report the amount as Federal income tax withheld on your income tax return for the year you received the income.

If you operate as a partnership or subchapter S corporation, any backup withholding can only be claimed by the partners and shareholders. Partners and shareholders should report their respective shares of the withheld amounts on their individual income tax returns. The amounts aren't refundable to the partnership or subchapter S corporation.

Additional Information

You can find more detailed information on backup withholding in Publication 1281.pdf, Backup Withholding for Missing and Incorrect Name/TIN(s), including the procedures for payers, and in Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax.